Leveraging Technology for an Efficient Supply Chain
The logistics industry is constantly being shaped by today’s ever-changing technological landscape. For such a large entity, global trade has remained surprisingly nimble and flexible as technology continues to evolve. Oftentimes we see the leading logistics providers around the world set themselves apart by placing themselves at the forefront of these new technologies as supply chains face problems we’ve never seen before.
At Scarbrough we pride ourselves on being early adopters of new platforms. Our team is constantly on the lookout for new technology that can improve our level of service to our customers. We view technology as an added tool to help make our employees’ jobs easier so we can pass along those benefits directly to our customers.
It feels as if Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are creeping into every industry across the world lately. But there are also countless other trends and technologies popping up everywhere that allow us to streamline our processes and provide customized service offerings to each of our clients.
“In general, it is our belief here at Scarbrough that with change comes opportunity,” says Scarbrough Global CEO Adam Hill. “Opportunity to refine practices, to open new markets, and opportunity to meet clients in spaces that neither of us previously anticipated meeting in.”
Key Technologies Utilizing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Without a doubt, one of the trendiest technologies currently revolves around AI and Machine Learning. From more common platforms like Siri and Alexa to ChatGPT, we are surrounded every day by instances of AI technology. The global trade industry has begun to reap the benefits of AI recently, as well. AI-powered predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms empower us to make data-driven decisions and optimize routing, inventory management, and demand forecasting. The best companies find ways to leverage these platforms to maximize efficiency across their business – covering everything from supply chain management to internal efficiency to warehouse management to customer-facing products like Transporation Management Systems.
We believe it is critical for our growing business to have partnerships with leading AI companies that help maximize efficiency for our customers’ supply chains, but also help our own employees work more efficiently. With platforms like Altana we can give our customers access to a dynamic, intelligent map of their global supply chain to continually monitor for potential supply chain disruptions and connections to forced labor risks. Altana can also help with classifications, taking hours of manpower out of the process and allowing them to focus on other facets of business.
If any supply chain risks or misclassifications are identified, your Scarbrough representative will then work with you to remedy those issues in a timely manner. With Altana’s help, we will continually work to ensure your supply chain maintains maximum efficiency.
Internally, our partnership with Raft helps Scarbrough employees automate some of the more time-consuming tasks, especially within the finance department, freeing up time to focus more on our customers. Raft brings together both AI and ML to provide workflow automation that not only speeds up daily processes, but also improves the employee experience. Because at Scarbrough we actually mean it when we say we’re a people company. We put the processes in place to help our people succeed and enjoy the best workplace possible.
Warehousing Technology
Maybe not top of mind when discussing technological advancements, the warehousing industry has seen technology streamline operations to save time and money. An industry that used to rely on paper ledgers and handwritten logs now has AI and robotic equipment in many warehouses around the world. Technology now has a hand in just about every aspect of warehousing, beyond just the picking and packing. With e-commerce on the rise every year, warehouses need to continually keep up with retailers to fulfill orders. Scarbrough’s warehouse in Liberty, MO currently interfaces with more than 800 B2B and B2C retail channels to keep up with our customers’ sales channels.
Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
The benefits and convenience of Transportation Management Systems also cannot be overstated in today’s fast-paced economy. When most people need to provide to-the-minute updates to supervisors or customers, having a reliable and easy TMS can set you apart. The most common use for a TMS is likely the real-time tracking capabilities. Having a dashboard that shows all your shipments in one place saves valuable time and provides peace of mind for all parties. Everyday consumers can track their orders from origin to destination, so importers and shippers need that same capability to stay on top of their business. But a TMS can offer much more than just tracking information. A side-by-side rate comparison tool also saves time while also ensuring customers are confident they’re getting the best rate possible.